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    840 Life and Writings of Herder.

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    : Account Of Herder's Life And Writings.

    Carlsrdbe in 1770- The project was most favourably received ; amd siany individiaals of celebrity , Wieland ^ Spittler , Jacobi , Muller , VO 6 « , smd Bun * er were engaged in its support . On Herder , from his known zeal-fof the civilization and improvement of mankind , was properly devolved the task of preparing and digesting-a plan for the commencement of this great work . Tfoe execution of this , as well as of other patriotic designs , which atypear

    about this lime to have been gradually maturing themselves in - different parts of Europe as the sure results of a progressive civilization , was abandoned and thrown back for years in the consternation occasioned by the excesses of the French Revolution . It is a good omen for the future peace of society , when those classes , who 9 from their station , must be the first to partake of the humanizing influence of literature and philosophy , instead of selfishly confining these advantages to themselves , discover a willingness to assist in diffusing them widely and deeply through all the inferior ranks of

    the community , and by thus smoothing the way for that gradual extinction of exclusive privileges , and that universal equality of political rights , towards which the movement of society evidently tends—to obviate the necessity of those fatal convulsions in which the conflicting interests of the many and the few are oftentimes so fearfully adjusted : and happy is it for society when enlightened and virtuous men , of the intermediate class , like Herder , feel the duties and responsibility of their position , and act as the connecting link which transmits innocuously the flame of knowledge and patriotism from one region of the social system to another !

    In the autumn of 1788 , Herder accepted an invitation from his friend Dalberg , a Canon of Worms and Spire 9 to accompany him on a tour to Italy . He was absent mearly a year , in the course of which he saw all that was principally deserving of notice in Florence , Rome , and Naples . His letters , written during this journey , to his wife and children , are interesting from the touches of affectionate warmth and simplicity of heart with which

    they abound ; but they are rather sentimental than instructive ; they discover little antiquarian or historical knowledge ; and , even in the description of scenery , his imagination is clouded with a kind of mysticism which intercepts the clearness and brilliancy of a picturesque effects , Statuary and painting seem to have been tlbe chief sources of his delight ; he always speaks of them with enthusiasm „

    Before he returned from this tour , he received a pressing and renewed request from <( JoUingen , in which his friend Heyne most earnestly joined , to hll the office of Professor of Theology and University Preacher , which he had previously declined . His own taste and inclination ) , the desire of completing the various literary undertakings which the distracting engagements of ins present situation vexatiously interru pted , and the wish to acquire a more extensive means of influencing and guiding the opinions of

    the coming generation than he possessed at Weimar—all these considerations led him to view with a favourable eye the leisure and tranquillity of an academic life : but the proofs of attachment and regard bestowed on him by his many fnends at Weimar , and their repeated expressions of poignant sorrow at the prospect of his removal , induced him , perhaps against his

    better judgment , to remain where he was . Certainly the vexations and troubles which embittered the remaining years of his life ,, and frustrated the execution of his plans ,, often extorted from him the expression of a deep regret at the decision which he had made . His situation as Vice-President of tbe Upper-Consistory devolved on hiro duties of a judicial as well as of an ucclesiastial nature ; at an advanced period of life he was

    840 Life And Writings Of Herder.

    840 Life and Writings of Herder .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1830, page 840, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/mrp_02121830/page/40/